Canadian Museum of Rail Travel

Cranbrook, BC, is home to the Canadian Museum ofsurviving 7-car set of the famous 1929 Trans-Canada
Rail Travel and is the largest city and service center inLimited, a vintage deluxe hotel on wheels. The railway
the East Kootenay region. Many parts of the city dateconstructed 12 new complete train sets comprising "A"
from 1898 and self-guided walking tours are availableclass dining cars, "R" series sleepers (8-sections,
with maps obtainable from the Chamber of2-compartments, 1-drawing room), combination
Commerce, or from the Museum.The Canadian Pacificbaggage sleeping cars (for the dining car crews) and
Railway played a major role in the development ofthe unique "River" class solarium-lounge cars that were
Cranbrook. Much of the original railway infrastructureat the end of the trains and especially popular. The
built in Cranbrook still survives, providing a goodtrain staff for the Limited was a little army; besides the
context for the development of the Railwaydriver-known in Canada as the "engineer"-and the
Museum.The renowned Canadian Museum of Railfireman, the Limited had a conductor, trainman,
Travel is one of the largest museums of its type insleeping-car conductor, one porter to each
Canada, with a valuable national collection of luxurioussleeping-car, a parlour-car attendant and the dining-car
trains from the golden age of railway travel. Open allstaff comprising of the chef, stewards and waiters.
year and located at 57 Van Horne Street South, whichThe Trans-Canada Limited, reserved for First Class
is Hwy 3/95 downtown. It is a must-see for any visitorpassengers only, traveled from Montreal and Toronto
to the region.The museum contains vintage passengerto Vancouver, a distance of 2,886 miles. Other trains
train sets representing various eras from the 1880s toon display include the 1907 ultra-luxurious Soo-Spokane
the 1930s. The cars are luxuriously appointed withTrain Deluxe. There are also cars in the museum that
exotic inlaid woods, brass fixtures, plush upholstery,were used by various visiting royalty over the years
wool carpets, period furniture, stained glass and otherand interpretive cars.Another highlight of the building
displays such as railway china and silverware.Thecomplex is the spectacular Royal Alexandra Hall, the
centerpiece of the train's displays is the only completerestored 3,000 sq. ft.